SA hosts on Airbnb platform received about 830 000 guests in 2017

ANA

Cape Town received about 350,000 Airbnb guests from over 150 countries.

South African hosts on the Airbnb platform welcomed nearly 830 000 guests last year, with the typical host earning R24 633 for renting out their space for an average of 17 nights a year, the company said.

The global hosting platform, which was founded 10 years ago, this week released data showing that there are now 4.85 million listings on Airbnb in more than 191 countries across the world.

The tourism capital of Cape Town received about 350 000 Airbnb guests from over 150 countries, earning each host about R39 348 over roughly 27 nights.

In the commercial hub of Johannesburg, 60 000 arrivals were recorded from 133 countries, earning each host about R15 969, while homeowners in the coastal city of Durban had 40 000 guests and each earned about R20 000.

In turn, 551,000 outbound guests in total travelled from South Africa to other destinations.

Since Airbnb was founded, it has opened up destinations to travellers off the typical tourist path and has brought economic benefits to small businesses and local residents.

“Building off of this work through partnerships, programs and events, Airbnb will expand its efforts to economically empower communities, drive travel to lesser-known places, and support environmentally-friendly travel habits,” the company said in its latest report.